Vol. 518 No. 5
178 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will publish the draft code of practice, formulated between Dúchas and the National Roads Authority, before it is approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12158/00]
180 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the consultations which have taken place with the Irish Association of Professional Archaeologists in the drawing up of the draft code of practice between Dúchas and the National Roads Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12160/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 180 together.
There have been no consultations to date with the Irish Association of Professional Archaeologists, IAPA, in relation to the drawing up of a draft code of practice between the National Roads Authority and my Department. The code of practice is intended to form the basis of a framework within existing legislation and policies and within which the NRA will be able to progress with its programme of work while carrying out appropriate archaeological mitigation which have regard to a set of principles and agreed actions by both parties. As this is strictly a bilateral arrangement concerning specifically the operational activities of the NRA and my Department, there are no plans for consultations with other parties in drafting the code. For the same reasons, it is not intended to publish it prior to its adoption. My officials are very familiar with the archaeological implications of road construction, and I can assure you that these concerns will be addressed fully in the context of the code of practice.
179 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if the draft code of practice, formulated between Dúchas and the National Roads Authority, contains a recommendation that archaeological monitoring works on the constructions phase of road projects be abandoned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12159/00]
A draft code of practice is still being developed and is the subject of ongoing negotiations between the National Roads Authority and my officials. I cannot say at this stage what the outcome of these discussions will be but it is my intention that the code will make provision for appropriate levels of archaeological monitoring on all major road construction projects and that, where sites are discovered as a result of such monitoring, they will be investigated having regard to the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, 1930 to 1994.
I wish to reiterate that it is my intention that that the code will make provision for appropriate levels of archaeological monitoring all major construction projects. Also, any archaeological sites discovered in the course of road development will be investigated in the normal way in accordance with the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, as well as my published policy and guidelines on archaeological excavations.
